Daily Republican., 1887-05-03
FOURTH EDITION
He Was Trusted Too Much.

The revelations concerning the pecu.
lations and flight of James N. TagRsr. 4,
an employe of the Union Trust Com
pany, Philadelphia, shows another case
Of mistaken confidence. President Long
Ia authority for the statement that the
thievefy will not exceed 500 900. The
Trust Company is secured by bonds for
$40, 900, Mrs. Martha Taggart, mother
Of the young man, and with whom he
and his family lived at No. 3707 Powell.
ton avenue, being the surrey, and by
other securities in the shape OF COL
laterals which amount to $4,000 more
President Long and Trust Officer ID
4. Patterson agree that tho mistake
made had been In allowing one man to
d II the two positions Of paying and re
ceiving toller. This has been remedted,
and 8 G. Saibert Is now paying teller
and j. b. Hood receiving teller. With
his facilities Taggatt was enabled to es-
cape detection for three months, but
that he would eventually be discovered
was certain. His method was Of ths
simplest. Taggart knew all or most Of
the depositors personally. and when
one would come In who was an infre-
quent though regular visitor, and would
deposit 81 O0s, more or less, the teller
wonld FIX up the personal book. hand 1t
back with smile and put the nancy
In his pocket.
He would not make any entry on the
''sorAtcher, as the daily entry book Ia
called, so his cash would balance all
Tight at the close of business. Ut lie the
head book keepers duty to check up
the deposit books, and for this reason
TagGsrt selected customers who but
seldom called. Several times, to avert
discovery, be checked up deposition
book himself. and the customer, not
being familiar with the proper methods,
WAS perfectly satisfied. TsgRart was
peremptorily discharged en- April 2 by
Mr.. Patterson, and the next day the
head book-keeper discovered dis
crepancy between the actual balance Of
customer and that which appeared 10
his deposit book.
Taggart's business probity was not
iopenly questioned at the time Of his lis.
charge, the dismissal resulting directly
from his drunken conduct at the Young
MDnnerohor Ball at the Academy OF
NJ usic, on February % last. He made
himself 80 unpleasantly conspicuous on
the OCCASION mentioned rs to attract the
attent ton OF one Of the directors OF the
Trust Company,and reported to Messrs.
Long and Patterson, and Inquiries
speedily set on foot revealed at once .
life Of debauchery and costly license.
Vigorous search is being made for Tag
CART, and the compapy's ofiicsrs assert
that II he he caught there will not be
any sympathy shown, but he will be
prosecuted to the fullest extent Of the
Jaw,
TaQgart has within the last year de-
/ veloped marked predictions for the
! life OF o man about town, and seemed
especially TO affect smuggling matches.
Few fights took place in Philadelphia
without Taggart's presence. 1t lie related
that to one of the hardest fights known
for months in Philadelphia Tagaart and
couple Of pugilistic chums were de-
| ternined to gain admittaDce, but the
gruff Cerberus at the door was obsti
nate until the ex Teller drew q 500 hil |
from goodly roll and fiourished II
with the remark: "How's that for a
ticket of admission" Thai was DIFF
ferent; he got In, and the fighters were
each $50 richer for HIS presence. As o
prom oter of the manly art Taggart was
always willing to furnish stakes for q
contest, and not few Of those who re.
gard dollars as admirable sa!ve fer
brui&eB regret his flight